“After coffee we fired the camper up and did the thing I’d been dying to do since first rolling onto the flats; crank Young, Wild & Free on the stereo, point the camper in some arbitrary direction, and burry the gas peddle. It was an absolutely liberating joyride.”

Read more "Young, Wild & Free on the Salar de Uyuni"

“From here there’s a fun section of slightly exposed scrambling on good rock, and then a deceptively long trudge across much looser boulder fields to the top of the Paso Apacheta (5130m). It was a real grind and my legs felt like jello.”

Read more "High Times on Bolivia’s Cordillera Real Trek: Part 2"

“We climbed on a road to 4550m and made our highest elevation camp in a picture perfect spot, tucked between some boulders and the requisite glacier blue meandering creak. It was high time for a wash, and we took frigid but refreshing dips in the glacial water.”

Read more "High Times on Bolivia’s Cordillera Real Trek: Part 1"

“The ridge was exposed on both sides and crumbling, making sure footing hard to come by. At one point we looked back to see a bar fridge sized boulder that we had all presumably just stood on fall off the top and trundle down the valley. Overcoming alarm bells howling in my head, I pressed on after Darren and Derek.”

Read more "Tossing Choss on Nevado Chicón 5530m"

“Darren and I decided to scramble farther. The exposure and difficulty took me outside my comfort zone, but the rock was solid and I was always able to push forward. It was an excellent scramble. We were eventually turned back by a difficult down climb onto the glacier. We didn’t have the gear to continue, but it was a minor defeat. We enjoyed a lunch of our last mandarin and a “Sublime” chocolate bar, our staple snack in Peru. The peaks of the Huayhuash awed us with their impressive relief, sharp rocky ridges, snowy spines, and cascading icefalls.”

Read more "The Cordillera Huayhuash: A Trek to End All Treks"

“The fascinating rock gardens of Hatun Machay are home to some of the best sport climbing in Peru. At 4600m, it’s one of the highest crags in the world and we were definitely feeling the altitude.”

Read more "Culture and Climbing in Hatun Machay"

“…we were soon distracted by the striking valley with its flat meadow bottom and looming rock walls. Through the meadow meandered a creek and giant boulders were strewn about. Everywhere there was livestock grazing and at first active indigenous homesteads and farms. At the end of the valley rose the impressive white spiny peaks of some of the Blanca’s 6000’ers.”

Read more "Mountains and Mischief: The Quilicayhuanca Trek"

“Upon arriving to the outskirts of town I was met with a rude surprise that literally stopped me in my tracks. 200 meters ahead the road was blockaded by rocks and three men in masks stood waving for me to come over. Considering what I had heard about robberies in Peru this seemed like a bad situation.”

Read more "Sneaking Through The Back Door On The North Coast of Peru"

“Feeling the effects of the altitude as you climb higher can be the hardest part as you are constantly assessing how you feel against the symptoms of HACE and HAPE. Luckily for me, it appears that I have been blessed with a very short memory. In the darkness I always struggle against the desire to return to the comfort below, but when the sun’s light comes I always feel renewed and energized. So far I’m still coming back for more.”

Read more "Volcan Chimborazo 6217m: En El Techo del Mundo"

March 25th, 2016 After hearing great things from some friends who hiked the Quilotoa circuit I decided to check out Laguna Quilotoa and hike around the perimeter of the spectacular crater lake. I was glad I did. Here are some of my favourite pictures. T

Read more "Laguna Quilotoa, Ecuador"